Thinking of getting a Toyota Hiace... good idea?

I’m considering buying a Toyota Hiace in the near future to live the van life. I’ve seen a bunch of people on YouTube using Hiaces, and I’m wondering if they’re as good as they seem. I’d definitely go for the high-top version for more headroom.

If you’re looking for a nudge, I say go for it. Hiaces are awesome!

They are pretty cool! I’d recommend looking for the 1kz diesel engine and avoiding the 2c/3c engines like the plague. There are shops in the NW that specialize in Hiaces, but I’d imagine finding parts and service outside those areas might be tough. Check Facebook, Craigslist, and Kijiji.ca in BC for good deals.

Where are you from? I rarely see Toyota Hiaces on the road. I’ve seen a bunch of them on YouTube though, so I’m curious where you’re spotting them. Interesting conversation!

charry said:
Where are you from? I rarely see Toyota Hiaces on the road. I’ve seen a bunch of them on YouTube though, so I’m curious where you’re spotting them. Interesting conversation!

I see them almost every day here in Oregon. There are a lot of Japanese imports around here.

@GARAGETOY
That’s fascinating! I’ve heard there are quite a few in Oregon and Arizona too. Either folks are importing them themselves, or there’s an official importer there. Very cool stuff!

charry said:
@GARAGETOY
That’s fascinating! I’ve heard there are quite a few in Oregon and Arizona too. Either folks are importing them themselves, or there’s an official importer there. Very cool stuff!

Oregon is like a van paradise. You see tons of them here. There are a few importers in the Pacific Northwest, and over the past few years, there’s been a rise in imported Japanese vans, campers, and even mini trucks. Most are from the 90s. I’ve even seen some old fire trucks driving around Portland. Cool little vans!

@GARAGETOY
They’re common here in Arizona too.

charry said:
Where are you from? I rarely see Toyota Hiaces on the road. I’ve seen a bunch of them on YouTube though, so I’m curious where you’re spotting them. Interesting conversation!

I’m in Western Australia.

@Kumi
That makes sense! You folks in Australia get all the cool cars that we don’t have here in the U.S. I love the Utes too. They stopped selling cars like the Chevy El Camino and Ford Ranchero here back in the 70s. I loved seeing Utes all over when we visited Australia. Such a beautiful place!

@charry
Yeah, we’re lucky when it comes to cars. My dad’s got a Hilux, and it’s a beast for off-roading.

charry said:
Where are you from? I rarely see Toyota Hiaces on the road. I’ve seen a bunch of them on YouTube though, so I’m curious where you’re spotting them. Interesting conversation!

They use Hiaces as commuter vans in Thailand. You don’t want a used commuter van though. They build them in Thailand too, I think.

I almost got one but decided against it because I didn’t want to spend too much time fixing things. Joke’s on me though, I ended up with a 2021 model and had to replace a bunch of stuff the original owner installed. It cost way more too. If I could go back, I’d have bought the Hiace and upgraded if needed.

Only get one if you’re handy with tools and plan to actually use the 4x4.

Niall said:
Only get one if you’re handy with tools and plan to actually use the 4x4.

Yeah, I’m pretty comfortable with tools.

Kumi said:

Niall said:
Only get one if you’re handy with tools and plan to actually use the 4x4.

Yeah, I’m pretty comfortable with tools.

That’s a great start! As long as you’re willing to do the work and keep some spare parts on hand for common issues, you’re good to go. VW van lifers deal with similar stuff, but many underestimate the time and effort it takes to keep an old van running smoothly.

Niall said:
Only get one if you’re handy with tools and plan to actually use the 4x4.

Not sure you need to be a master mechanic. Hiaces are more reliable than a lot of domestic minivans. And unless you have deep pockets, don’t go too wild with 4x4 adventures.

@Aldrin
All the Hiaces are imported though. I’ve got three cars that are over 20 years old, and stuff breaks because of age and wear over time.

Niall said:
@Aldrin
All the Hiaces are imported though. I’ve got three cars that are over 20 years old, and stuff breaks because of age and wear over time.

True, stuff breaks no matter what. But I’ve had better luck with old imported Toyotas than domestic minivans.

Every YouTuber I’ve seen with one is always working on it, haha. I think they look awesome, but they seem like a bit of a headache.